Election

Like their counterparts across the country, Wisconsin Democrats eager to win back the House and make gains in the Senate have been watching primary election voter turnout with bated breath. This week, they found reason to be hopeful: turnout in the state's primary on Tuesday soared to its highest level since 2002, with a surge in Democratic votes.

The Wisconsin partisan primary is over and the results have set the stage for the general election in November. To help put those results into perspective, Lake Effect's Joy Powers chatted with Lilly Goren, professor of political science at Carroll University.

Tuesday's elections in four states — Wisconsin, Minnesota, Connecticut and Vermont — produced some noteworthy results.

Here are four takeaways:

1. It was a big night for Democratic diversity

Christine Hallquist, a former energy company executive, became the first openly transgender person to win a major party's nomination for governor. And the Democrat's candidacy may not be one just for the trivia books — she has a chance at winning this fall.

Republican Bryan Steil, former aide to House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Democratic union ironworker Randy Bryce will challenge each other for Ryan’s House seat in November’s general election.

Steil beat out five other Republican competitors. He outraised them and secured the backing of prominent donors and Republicans, including Ryan who announced earlier this year that he wouldn’t seek re-election this fall.

Earnell Lucas won Tuesday's Democratic primary for Milwaukee County Sheriff.

He beat two other Democrats running for sheriff, Acting Sheriff Richard Schmidt and Milwaukee County Deputy Sheriff Robert Ostrowski. Lucas will likely win the Nov. 6 general election, as no Republicans ran in the primary. However, there still may be Republican write-ins.

The polls are now open in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Election Commission expects about 30 percent of registered voters in the city to head to the polls.

Meanwhile, state election officials are reminding people that because this is a partisan primary, voters must choose candidates from just one party.

Today's partisan primary elections include races for governor, U.S. Senate and seats in the House of Representatives. These contests are drawing national attention, including from NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday.

Primary voters in four more states — Connecticut, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Vermont — go to the polls on Tuesday.

This year's been dominated by talk of Democratic gains, but Tuesday, Republicans will pick nominees in several places where they hope to flip House seats and even governors' mansions.

Two Republicans who failed to win the White House are hoping voters will elect them to lead their states for a third time — but one is trying to make a political comeback after almost a decade out of office.

With races for governor, U.S. Senate and other offices, turnout is expected to be the highest since the presidential election in November 2016. Donald Trump's win in that election spurred a lot of national concern over election tampering. While some voters still aren’t sure the system is secure, Wisconsin officials say the public shouldn't be worried about ballot security.

Janet Clark hopes to keep her dairy farm in the family. She inherited Vision Aire Farms from her parents, and now runs it with her younger brother.

The farm is idyllic, tucked away amid rolling green hills of corn and sunflower fields. One side of the farm holds a line of calves. They are individually fed by Clark's children and their cousins, playfully holding milk bottles for them to drink.

He beat two other Democrats running for sheriff, Acting Sheriff Richard Schmidt and Milwaukee County Deputy Sheriff Robert Ostrowski. Lucas will likely win the Nov. 6 general election, as no Republicans ran in the primary. However, there still may be Republican write-ins.

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Janesville rocked the political world earlier this year when he announced he wouldn’t seek reelection in fall. Now, the seat is up for grabs – with a crowded primary on Tuesday. The district covers Racine, Kenosha and Walworth counties, along with parts of southern Milwaukee and Waukesha counties.

We conclude our conversations with the candidates in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Our final talk is with Kathleen Vinehout of northern Wisconsin. She's currently serving her third term in the state Senate. She's also been a farmer and a teacher.